Know the numbers
Texas car dealer fees and sales tax
What the state's own rules and tax pages say, with a link to each. Local taxes and fees are not included, so use the numbers on your quote for those.
- Dealer doc fee
- Texas has no single dollar cap in the rule we read. A documentary fee of $225 or less does not need a notification or cost analysis sent to the state's consumer credit office first (7 TAC 84.205). Ask for the exact fee.
Source: law.cornell.edu. Opened twice on 2026-11-02, same words both times. - Trade-in and sales tax
- Texas takes the trade-in off before tax: the Comptroller lists the rate as 6.25 percent of the sales price, minus any trade-in allowance.
Source: comptroller.texas.gov. Opened twice on 2026-11-02, same words both times. - Tax rate
- The motor vehicle sales and use tax rate is 6.25%, and the Comptroller says there is no local motor vehicle tax.
Source: comptroller.texas.gov. Opened twice on 2026-11-02, same words both times.
Try it with Texas's numbers
This opens the calculator with the state tax rate filled in. Add your local tax, the doc fee from your quote and the rest.
Other states
California · Florida · New York · Pennsylvania · Illinois · Ohio · Georgia · North Carolina · Michigan · All states in one table
Rules change. If you see a number here that does not match the state's page today, email support@playriot.co and we will fix it.
Want the dealer's paperwork checked against this?
DealShield reads the buyer's order or finance worksheet, flags add-ons and markups, and gives you the words to push back. Free to start.
See DealShield on the App Store